If you signed up with a cellular network, then they might have agreed to give you an iPhone as a part of that deal. Some cellular networks will give you a brand-new iPhone if you agree to sign up with them for a couple of years. If you see that particular network has good reviews and excellent coverage in your area, then this can be a sensible move.
The phone that the carrier gives you might be locked, or it might be unlocked. We will describe how to check if your iPhone is unlocked in the following article. We’ll also make sure you understand what this concept means and its implications.
What Do the Terms “Locked” and “Unlocked” Mean with iPhones?
A locked phone is one that you can only use on a particular carrier’s network. You probably know about most of the prominent networks that are available in the US. There is Verizon, T-Mobile, AT&T, Sprint, and others.
A carrier lock is a term that is usually used to describe a phone that will only work on a particular cellular data network. You might also hear someone say that an iPhone has SIM restrictions. We will talk about what that means a little later.
What About the Term Unlocked?
If someone describes a phone as being unlocked, that means that it does not have a carrier lock on it. In other words, an unlocked device is one that you can use on any network.
Having an unlocked iPhone can be beneficial in some ways. If you know that your device is not carrier locked, then you can sign up with any network you like. Unlocked iPhones have flexibility, which makes them more desirable to most consumers than ones that are carrier locked.
Understanding Your SIM Card and What It Does
When we are discussing whether you have an unlocked phone or a locked one, part of what we are talking about is the status of your SIM card. A SIM card is a kind of smart card that you will find on every mobile phone.
You can find them in iPhones, and also Android phones, and other varieties that are on the market today. The word SIM stands for subscriber identity module.
Each SIM card carries a unique identification number as part of it. This is what is referred to as the iPhone’s IMEI number.
That number identifies the phone as belonging to you. A SIM card can also store personal data as you customize your iPhone so that it better suits your needs.
A SIM Card Can Also Prevent a Phone’s Operation
There’s one additional thing that a SIM card does that you should know about. If you remove a SIM card from a phone, that can prevent someone from enjoying most or all of that phone’s functionality.
Say that you are selling an iPhone or trading it in. Regardless of whether that iPhone is unlocked or not, the buyer or entity to which you’re trading the phone will most likely want the SIM card that goes with it. The phone is more valuable if it comes with a SIM card.
Can You Switch a SIM Card Between Phones?
However, you should also be aware that you can remove your SIM card from an iPhone and put it in another one in some instances. You can only do so, though, if that new phone is also going to be used on the carrier network that’s compatible with that card.
The SIM card will also need to be the right size to fit in the new phone. SIM cards can be regular-sized, but there are also micro and nano ones that are smaller. Every SIM card, regardless of what size it is, will have a separate IMEI number that identifies it.
Now, we will explain how to find out whether an iPhone is unlocked.
Checking for SIM Card Restrictions
Finding out whether an iPhone is unlocked is actually quite simple. You will first need to go to your Settings app. The Settings app is the place where you will always start if you are searching for all kinds of information regarding your iPhone.
From there, you will head to General, and then About. There, you should see where it says Carrier Lock.
If your phone is unlocked, this is where you will find that out. An unlocked iPhone will say something like “no SIM restrictions.” If you see that, it means the iPhone is unlocked, and you can use it on any cellular data network that you like.
If you see a notification that the phone is locked, it should also say what network it’s tied to. That might be Verizon, AT&T, or any of the others we mentioned.
Only Your Current Carrier Can Unlock Your Phone
Let us say you want an unlocked iPhone, because you know the flexibility having one affords you. You realize that you can switch over to a different mobile data network, and maybe that’s an attractive prospect to you.
The way you would do that is to contact the current carrier to which the phone is locked. If you pay a fee, the network can change the carrier locked status. Normally, they will issue a SIM unlock code and tell you how to use it. It’s a simple procedure that anyone can do.
How Much Do You Have to Pay to Unlock an iPhone?
The cost to get an unlocked iPhone varies. You might be able to get unlock status for as little as $20 in some instances. In other cases, you might pay up to $200 or more.
If you are paying more to ensure your iPhone is unlocked, that almost always means you’re dealing with a relatively new, high-end phone. Older, outdated iPhone models will not cost as much to unlock from a carrier network because they are no longer as desirable as the latest one that just came out.
Can Anyone Besides the Carrier Unlock Your iPhone?
You might also be curious about whether you can get that unlock status for your iPhone without paying a fee to the current carrier. There are various entities online or ones that you can visit in person that insist that they can get your iPhone unlocked.
They might also claim that they can do things like give you a different carrier’s SIM card. They may say they can give you a new IMEI number or issue you a new iPhone’s serial number. This will ostensibly unlock the iPhone, and it’s supposedly a workaround if you don’t want to pay the current carrier the price they are demanding.
Avoid Entities Besides the Carrier that Say They Can Unlock Your iPhone
It is almost always best to avoid entities or individuals who say they can work their magic with a smartphone that is carrier locked. These are almost always scams.
Anyone who says they can unlock an iPhone by getting you a new IMEI number is also more than likely trying to pull a fast one on you. Remember that an IMEI number is like your iPhone’s fingerprint. It’s always going to be unique to your device, and you can’t change it.
The Best Way to Ensure Your iPhone is Unlocked
We will now take a moment to describe in greater detail the best way to make sure your iPhone is unlocked, and that you have not rendered it inoperable in the attempt. This is the only real sanctioned way of making sure your iPhone is unlocked, so follow these steps if this is something that interests you.
Only your carrier can unlock your iPhone, so reach out to them. You can communicate with them over the phone, or you might also do a Live Chat with them on their website. The network’s customer service representatives should have no issue chatting with you about unlocked phones, switching to a different carrier, and so forth.
The customer service rep should tell you how much you must pay them to ensure your iPhone is unlocked. If the price is acceptable to you, then you can tell them you want to move forward.
This Process Can Take Up to a Few Days
Your carrier might take a few days to make preparations to unlock your phone. You can reach out again after three or four days have elapsed if they have not gotten back to you with an update.
Your carrier will eventually confirm that they have unlocked the phone. You can confirm your iPhone is unlocked by checking the device in the way we described above.
You May Need to Switch Out the SIM Card
At this point, it may become necessary to switch out your SIM card as well. You should do that if you plan on switching over to another wireless carrier besides the one you are currently using.
Your phone will retain its IMEI number, but you will need to put a new SIM card in it to confirm the iPhone is unlocked. You can do that with a SIM eject tool.
This tool comes with new iPhones, or you can also buy them online or in certain electronics stores. However, you can also access the SIM card slot on your iPhone with the straightened end of a paperclip if you have one handy.
You will find the SIM card slot on the iPhone’s right-hand side. It is right around the phone’s midpoint on most models.
You should be able to see a small SIM tray hole. Use the SIM card ejector tool and press gently into the hole. When the tray pops out, you can remove the card.
Switch Out the Cards
Replace the old card with your new one. Then, with the new SIM card inserted back into the phone, you can press the tray back into the device. It should fit securely and snap into place with an audible click.
Make sure that you only use a replacement card that is the same dimensions as the iPhone’s tray. If it does not fit exactly right, even if it appears to be the same size, you may need to take it out and reorient it. The card should be a size and shape so that the correct way to put it in the SIM tray should be fairly obvious.
Now, you can feel free to use the iPhone on a different carrier. The IMEI number will be the same, even if the card is different.
What if You Try to Use the iPhone on a New Network, and You Get an Error Message?
There’s one more thing you should know about the unlocking process. Let’s say you have decided to change the phone’s lock status. You have contacted your current cellular carrier, and they have agreed to unlock your iPhone.
You get an activation code, and you also put a new card into the SIM card tray. You see a message that says something like “The card inserted in this phone does not appear to be supported,” or something to that effect.
If you see this kind of message, it probably means that the carrier has not been successful in unlocking the device. Confirm this when you open Settings and go to General. Go to About.
See whether there is any message about the phone’s use still being restricted. If you see that, reach out to your current carrier. They may not have completed the necessary reset process that is needed if you are switching carriers.
You Now Know All About Locked and Unlocked iPhones
You should now have all the information you need to figure out whether your iPhone is locked or unlocked. You know how you can check a phone’s status easily enough, and you also know why it is generally considered better to have an unlocked phone instead of a locked one.
Having a locked phone is not the worst thing in the world, but most people prefer to have unlocked mobile devices because of the freedom it affords them. If you have an unlocked phone, you can move across the country and sign up with a different network with no issues at any time you like.
Consider this when you are thinking about signing up with a cellular network. The better ones might give you a brand-new iPhone, but if it’s locked, a time might come in the future when you will want to ask about unlocking it.
